April 16th

What we know at this point is that state institutions here will absorb more than $13 million in cuts if legislators don’t find a way to change the budget as recommended by Gov. Bobby Jindal for 2009-10.
Interestingly, Tech and GSU’s governing body, the University of Louisiana System, will be releasing the results of a seven-month study that details the economic impacts of the eight-member university system. That information will come out today, and it will provide some ammunition for legislators who are trying to make sound arguments against devastating cuts.

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There is no cost to participate.
“This won’t be any kind of competition or anything like that,” Lake D’Arbonne Dutch Oven Society chapter advisor Kent Hogan said. “The big difference this time is that instead of offering samples, we’re just going to let people finish their cooking and then put the pot on the table and let people come and get it.

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April 15th

Dan Reneau, Louisiana Tech president, said the university was preparing its plan for transfer to Baton Rouge on Tuesday afternoon. He said the report summarizes the effects of the cuts over almost all of the university.
He did not release details of the cuts to individual colleges within the university, personnel trimming or other data, waiting for a meeting next week in Baton Rouge where the ULS will present all of the data for its member universities to the state. Conversations he had with the system office led to requests to not release information, Reneau said.

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It will be the first of seven consecutive games at home for the Bulldogs (13-16, 1-7), who will entertain defending College World Series and Western Athletic Conference champion Fresno State University (18-16, 2-2) in a league series beginning Friday and then have Texas Wesleyan coming in Tuesday for a 3 p.m. doubleheader.
The Bulldogs are hoping to turn things around with the home appearances, having dropped four-of-four WAC games at San Jose State last weekend. Those defeats left Tech in last place for the league and two full games below sixth place Sacramento State (1-3).

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The first tax season can be a strong memory. It surely was for me. As my place of employment began sending notices of W-2 mail-outs, it was hard to be anything but blase about it. Everybody files taxes, and they do it every year. It wasn’t going to be too tough.
Boy was that wrong. Like a nincompoop, I waited until the weekend before the deadline. I just logged on to the government’s e-file Web site and started filling in blanks based off the W-2.

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The governor and others say the current law encourages suspects to refuse the tests.
Under current law, those who take a breathalyzer for the first time and fail get a driver’s license suspension for two years. Drivers who refuse the test for the first time face a license suspension of six months.
That sends a pretty clear message to those who are gambling with others’ lives while driving drunk — just refuse the test and you’ll be better off.

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“This is something the state needs to get a grip on as soon as possible to get a competitive interest with others,” Landrieu said. “We want cities and parishes to come together to make sure as many people are connected as possible.”
Approximately $3 billion in federal grant money will be funneled into the Department of Commerce, Department of Agriculture and toward the creation of a national broadband map, according to a representative from Landrieu’s office.

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April 14th

Yes, that Fresno State (18-15, 2-1), the defending national champions who pulled off arguably the most unexpected march to a College World Series title last year.
A single game Friday at 6 p.m. will start the series and be followed by a Saturday doubleheader at 1 p.m. and another single contest Sunday at the same time.
Before that series arrives, however, the home Bulldogs have Northwestern State University coming in here Wednesday for a 6 p.m. single game.
And Tech’s next seven games will be on its home turf.

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Hopefully, much will be answered at some point today. A status conference was slated to be held before a Fort Worth, Texas, bankruptcy court overseeing the Pilgrim’s Pride proceedings.
The state of Louisiana pitched in to help Foster Farms’ efforts to buy the plant, matching the company’s $40 million to push its bid to a $80 million total offer. After being turned down twice in earlier offers, that $80 million looked to be the magic number as Pilgrim’s Pride on March 20 tentatively agreed to sell the Farmerville facilities and resources to Foster Farms.

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When these tiny babies are born too early, they are completely dependent upon caring people and the latest technology for their survival.
In the local March of Dimes chapter, Lincoln Parish has a dedicated group of people committed to helping save babies. And, they need our help. This year’s March for Babies fundraising goal is $35,000.
Prematurity is the leading cause of death for newborns in the United States. Those who survive often have lifelong health problems, including cerebral palsy, mental retardation, chronic lung disease, blindness and hearing loss.

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